New Walmart opens Wednesday in Silver Springs Shores

Store Manager Reta Mulconrey is shown at the Silver Springs Shores Walmart Monday as it prepares to open in Silver Springs Shores on Wednesday.

Alan Youngblood/Star-Banner

By Daniela DrazanCorrespondent

Published: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, July 15, 2013 at 1:38 p.m.

SILVER SPRINGS SHORES — It is a large, sandy-brown building with yellow wildflowers freshly planted in the boulevards framing the parking lot off Bahia Road and Maricamp Road. That lot is more full than empty, hinting at the growing bustle inside, where workers mount extended cranes to attach ceiling lighting and half-empty displays were being filled by crisply uniformed employees. A sign, "Now Hiring," was on the door.

Facts

IF YOU GO

What: Grand opening of new WalmartWhen: 7:30 a.m. WednesdayWhere: Store is at Maricamp Road and Bahia Avenue in Silver Springs ShoresMore info: Local dignitaries, vendors, Chester the Cheetah, and the Lake Weir High School marching band are scheduled to attend. ... Walmart and the Wal-Mart Foundation will present $4,000 in grants to local community groups including Florida Veterans Assistance Association, Gateway to Hope Ministries, Interfaith Emergency Services, Lake Weir High School, Silver Springs Shores Resource Center, Marion County Kidney Foundation, Ocala Autism Support Network and the Public Education Foundation of Marion County. ... There will be a “Big Family Welcome” from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday where customers have a chance to meet store manager Reta Mulconey and enjoy face painting, cupcake decorating and free food samples which supplies last.

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"It smells of new store, doesn't it?" asked Reta Mulconrey, smiling and surveying the new gray flooring, the bright-blue painted cashier islands, the environmentally friendly coolers, and the large produce and bakery sections.

Mulconrey is the first manager of this new Walmart, which is scheduled to open Wednesday, and this store clearly is her domain. It is evident in her posture: upright with arms folded, head slightly tilted toward the earpiece of her phone, as if waiting to hear from a supervisor on the floor at any minute.

Although this Walmart is slightly smaller than others in the vicinity, it offers full service, including a bakery, self-serve deli, pharmacy, tire-and-lube express and garden center. The produce area is expanded, and the deli/bakery section made spacious. It also boasts the very first retail, non-Freon refrigerant system as a part of the Walmart commitment to "going green."

Mulconrey oversees the network of cashiers, supervisors and managers that make this 181,000-square-foot space run. It is her moment, and she savors it.

As a single mom, she began work as a cashier at the 19th Avenue Road Walmart in 2000. Within six months she had been promoted to a new level. In the next 13 years she worked her way up through the myriad administrative levels, from hourly supervisor to salaried manager.

"Actually, I could have moved up sooner, but I wanted to learn as much as I could, so that I could be prepared," she said during an interview last week.

The preparation has paid off. Opening a new store is a challenge. Once the major construction was finished, Mulconrey and her team had six weeks to set up the interior and train employees before the grand opening — doing all their own hiring.

Now, most of the hiring has been complete, and she is proud that of the 200 plus associates hired, 95 percent are from the local community, where she herself, as a graduate of Dunnellon High School and College of Central Florida attendee, has deep ties.

"Ocala is a beautiful city … it has the perks of being a big city, but with a country, small-town feel. It cares for its community …and this is where I want to focus too, on the associates and our customers, the store can help them save money and live better," Mulconrey said.

Mulconrey said the Walmart corporate culture was conducive to her growth: "They look for natural leaders and have a ‘develop to lead' program for those who have potential. The majority of their leaders come from within," she said.

She hopes to bring this out in the people she works with; in fact, teaching and working with associates are the reasons she enjoys being a store manager.

"I want to help them grow and find joy in their job. I know that I am a success when they themselves feel like they own the store and then they create a kinship with their customers. It works when they feel they are a family," she said.

Greenway Elementary School Principal Erin Quainton, whose campus is just around the corner, is excited about the new Walmart because it will "give a boost to the community and maybe spur new development."

In addition, it helps with her own shopping: "Walmart offers great quality materials. I spend lots of time purchasing things for teachers and students. It will be very convenient for us and for our school," she said.

County Commissioner David Moore noted that the residents in his district are also looking forward to the new store: "They will have more convenient shopping nearby for their day-to-day needs. I'm personally excited about the economic development that the store will bring with it and for the enhanced quality of life it will provide for residents in my district," he said.

<p>SILVER SPRINGS SHORES — It is a large, sandy-brown building with yellow wildflowers freshly planted in the boulevards framing the parking lot off Bahia Road and Maricamp Road. That lot is more full than empty, hinting at the growing bustle inside, where workers mount extended cranes to attach ceiling lighting and half-empty displays were being filled by crisply uniformed employees. A sign, "Now Hiring," was on the door.</p><p>"It smells of new store, doesn't it?" asked Reta Mulconrey, smiling and surveying the new gray flooring, the bright-blue painted cashier islands, the environmentally friendly coolers, and the large produce and bakery sections.</p><p>Mulconrey is the first manager of this new Walmart, which is scheduled to open Wednesday, and this store clearly is her domain. It is evident in her posture: upright with arms folded, head slightly tilted toward the earpiece of her phone, as if waiting to hear from a supervisor on the floor at any minute.</p><p>Although this Walmart is slightly smaller than others in the vicinity, it offers full service, including a bakery, self-serve deli, pharmacy, tire-and-lube express and garden center. The produce area is expanded, and the deli/bakery section made spacious. It also boasts the very first retail, non-Freon refrigerant system as a part of the Walmart commitment to "going green."</p><p>Mulconrey oversees the network of cashiers, supervisors and managers that make this 181,000-square-foot space run. It is her moment, and she savors it.</p><p>As a single mom, she began work as a cashier at the 19th Avenue Road Walmart in 2000. Within six months she had been promoted to a new level. In the next 13 years she worked her way up through the myriad administrative levels, from hourly supervisor to salaried manager.</p><p>"Actually, I could have moved up sooner, but I wanted to learn as much as I could, so that I could be prepared," she said during an interview last week.</p><p>The preparation has paid off. Opening a new store is a challenge. Once the major construction was finished, Mulconrey and her team had six weeks to set up the interior and train employees before the grand opening — doing all their own hiring.</p><p>Now, most of the hiring has been complete, and she is proud that of the 200 plus associates hired, 95 percent are from the local community, where she herself, as a graduate of Dunnellon High School and College of Central Florida attendee, has deep ties.</p><p>"Ocala is a beautiful city … it has the perks of being a big city, but with a country, small-town feel. It cares for its community …and this is where I want to focus too, on the associates and our customers, the store can help them save money and live better," Mulconrey said.</p><p>Mulconrey said the Walmart corporate culture was conducive to her growth: "They look for natural leaders and have a 'develop to lead' program for those who have potential. The majority of their leaders come from within," she said.</p><p>She hopes to bring this out in the people she works with; in fact, teaching and working with associates are the reasons she enjoys being a store manager.</p><p>"I want to help them grow and find joy in their job. I know that I am a success when they themselves feel like they own the store and then they create a kinship with their customers. It works when they feel they are a family," she said.</p><p>Greenway Elementary School Principal Erin Quainton, whose campus is just around the corner, is excited about the new Walmart because it will "give a boost to the community and maybe spur new development."</p><p>In addition, it helps with her own shopping: "Walmart offers great quality materials. I spend lots of time purchasing things for teachers and students. It will be very convenient for us and for our school," she said.</p><p>County Commissioner David Moore noted that the residents in his district are also looking forward to the new store: "They will have more convenient shopping nearby for their day-to-day needs. I'm personally excited about the economic development that the store will bring with it and for the enhanced quality of life it will provide for residents in my district," he said.</p>